Upson County holds public hearing on proposed revisions to county meetings code

Upson County commissioners opened a public hearing Jan. 28 on an ordinance to repeal and replace sections 2-26, 2-27 and 2-28 of the county code to set meeting schedules, codify basic parliamentary procedures and formalize public-comment rules. The board did not vote on the ordinance at the meeting and scheduled further consideration at a later session.

The measure would require a regular meeting at the end of each month (proposed as the fourth Tuesday), preserve a first-Wednesday working session and keep a second-Tuesday slot available for additional meetings. The draft also would place a short summary of commonly used provisions of Robert’s Rules of Order into the county code, change the rotation of the order in which members vote so the chair does not always vote last, and clarify that a quorum and a majority are required to pass actions (meaning a three-member meeting would require a unanimous vote to approve an item).

“ I ran on transparency, and I want people to know how I really vote on things,” a commissioner leading the draft said during the hearing, explaining why the board proposed rotating who votes last. The draft also sets time limits for public participation: two general public-comment periods at regular meetings (20 minutes total each; five minutes per speaker) and a separate public-hearing rule that allows a 10-minute presentation by a project proponent and 20 minutes of opposing comment, with individual speakers limited to five minutes. The draft requires speakers to give their name and whether they are a Upson County resident but not their street address.

Supporters of the changes said putting common procedures directly in the county code will make meeting rules easier for citizens to find and reduce reliance on an external reference to Robert’s Rules. Opponents told the board they worry limiting comment time could reduce public access to the commission. “If we limit the public’s ability to talk to us, it just, that concerns me a little bit,” one commissioner said, noting the board plans an annual review of the ordinance and that other counties commonly limit comment to three minutes.

The public hearing opened without any speakers signed on the hearing list and later was closed by motion. Commissioners said they will hold an additional public hearing and consider the ordinance again at the next meeting to allow more time for review and for citizens to provide feedback.

Background materials in the agenda packet show the working group met earlier in January and took examples from larger counties that consolidate votes into fewer public meetings while keeping working sessions; the board also discussed logistics such as where to hold work sessions and ensuring meeting videos remain available on YouTube.

The board framed the proposal as an attempt to balance efficient governance with opportunities for public input; commissioners and staff repeatedly said the changes can be reviewed and adjusted after implementation.